The decision to move forward with the proposed pedestrian/cycling bridge in downtown Courtenay was put off again at Monday’s council meeting.
Council passed a motion by Coun. Bill Anglin and seconded by Coun. Starr Winchester instructing staff to continue to investigate funding options and grant opportunities and provide another report to council.
A lengthy staff report recommended council provide staff with direction in regards to the project.
But, council had new information to consider, which included a choice between applying for funding to build the pedestrian/cycling bridge or to cover the rehabilitation work on the Fifth Street bridge.
According to the staff report, the Gas Tax General Strategic Priorities Fund through the Union of B.C. Municipalities is a grant that could cover 100 per cent of the construction of the pedestrian/cycling bridge, which is estimated at $2 million.
However, Tillie Manthey, City director of financial services, noted the work on the Fifth Street bridge looks like it would fit the grant eligibility requirements too, and the City could likely only get the grant for one of the projects.
“This grant opportunity that’s available now is actually asking you to decide between the two,” said Manthey, adding that another grant opportunity like this may or may not come along again soon. “Both projects actually fit into this particular category and that’s why it’s difficult to make a recommendation from a staff level.”
Fifth Street bridge rehabilitation works estimated at $250,000 have been budgeted for this year, and further work to re-paint the bridge — estimated at a $1.7 million — is recommended in the coming years.
The deadline to apply for the grant is May 31, creating a short timeline to prepare the application.
Meanwhile, according to the report, an initial $70,000 would be necessary to move the pedestrian/cycling bridge project forward; this cost would cover survey work, geotechnical analysis, archaeological work and preparation of the preliminary design. This work must be completed in order to apply for any federal or provincial grants for the project.
Because the $70,000 was not included in this year’s draft financial plan, the report suggested three options if council was to move ahead with this spending: defer other project(s) slated for this year, increase the general property tax levy for 2012 or use funds from the Community Works Funds: Gas Tax Revenue Transfer.
Leonard pointed out that nearly $2 million in reserves is sitting in the Community Works Funds: Gas Tax Revenue Transfer, and suggested using some of this money to get the project moving.
“They need some, what I’ll call, ‘seed money’ to get going,” said Leonard. “I don’t see why we can’t take this to stimulate a lot more investment with sweat equity, with community contributions, with the ability to look at other avenues for funds and to get moving on the project.”
Harry Holland, chair of the Courtenay River People Bridge Steering Committee, came before council in early March asking for Courtenay’s support. He was confident federal and provincial funding for the bridge would be forthcoming, and said the steering committee would be able to start fundraising after the design phase of the project was complete.
Regardless of which project council chooses to apply for funding for, Manthey noted that $70,000 would still need to be spent in order to apply for any grants for the pedestrian/cycling bridge.
“You still have to decide do you support front-ending the estimated $70,000 worth of technical work that has to take place for us to be able to apply for a grant,” said Manthey.
The motion to have staff investigate further and report back to council was not unanimous with Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard and Coun. Doug Hillian opposed. Mayor Larry Jangula, Coun. Jon Ambler, Anglin and Winchester voted in favour of the motion, and Coun. Manno Theos was not at the meeting.
“I would much prefer that we could have that further discussion here this afternoon and make a decision,” Hillian said before the vote.
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
